Another Shipping Question

[Nardo1895]

I tried to ship a long gun at my nearby UPS store. They told me I could not do it, even though I have a FFL. I tried to argue I should be able to, but the manager said they are not really UPS but just a franchise. They said I needed to go to the main UPS office. Has that been your experience? The main UPS office is a pain to get to and usually crowded.

This was my first time with UPS, I usually ship FedEx or USPS.

Thanks

[Librarian]

This is a well-known UPS policy.

[waygeekierthanu]

My local UPS Store ships them all day for me and has never said a thing. They know what I'm shipping too because the manager has bought guns from me. FedEx on the other hand gave me piles of crap

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[RoundEye]

I think there is something about them not wanting to hold firearms in their stores. I always just schedule a pickup.

[BONECUTTER]

I've never understood how this happens and hear it a fair amount....like do you walk in holding a sign that says there is a gun in this box. If a clerk asked me what I was shipping the phrase "None of your Business comes to mind" ..."Sporting goods/ machine parts...ect are nicer.

But I have never had someone ask me what I was shipping.

[Librarian]

I've never understood how this happens and hear it a fair amount....like do you walk in holding a sign that says there is a gun in this box. If a clerk asked me what I was shipping the phrase "None of your Business comes to mind" ..."Sporting goods/ machine parts...ect are nicer.

But I have never had someone ask me what I was shipping.

You take a risk there :

Notifying the carrier

Federal law does not require you to notify the carrier that the package contains a firearm if the firearm is being shipped within the State.

However, both UPS and FedEx company policies require that you notify them that you are shipping a firearm. Failure to notify is a violation of their terms of service and they would be within their right to deny claims of loss on shipments that do not follow their terms.

See the wiki, http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/in...hin_California

[edgerly779]

usps cheapest for long gun. ups store never ships guns or ammo except 2a is getting it done.

[BONECUTTER]

You take a risk there : See the wiki, http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/in...hin_California
However, both UPS and FedEx company policies require that you notify them that you are shipping a firearm. Failure to notify is a violation of their terms of service and they would be within their right to deny claims of loss on shipments that do not follow their terms.

https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-center/packaging-and-supplies/special-care-shipments/firearms.page

When you are shipping a package that contains a handgun, you must verbally notify the UPS driver or UPS Customer Center clerk.

That's all I could find saying you need to notify UPS there is a gun and it looks like it only applies to a handgun for some reason.

Fed EX says to notify for any firearm. I have never shipped fedex.

UPS have never questioned any claim I have ever had on a shipment issue so I'm not worried about it.

[checkplease]

I recently just shipped through UPS and had to go through a UPS customer center. I went to the regular UPS store to get it packaged and then just shipped it off through the customer center. Was fairly easy and straight forward.


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[kemasa]

The UPS Store isn't UPS, it is a separate company and the locations are typically a franchise. So, no, you can't ship through the UPS Store, plus if you pay for shipping online, UPS isn't responsible until they get it (any package) and the UPS Store isn't responsible.

FedEx Office is FedEx, so you can ship through them. FedEx ground tends to be the cheapest for long guns, especially if you get a discount for doing it online and also with credit card discounts.

[Nardo1895]

I took it to the UPS center. They were not too busy so it ended up not a big deal. A few observations:

Fed Ex usually asks me if its a firearm when they see its going to "Bubba's Gun Shop". I'm not going to lie if they ask although it is tempting to give them a "Here's Your Sign" answer.

At UPS, you have to declare what is in the package. I suppose I could have said "sporting goods" but the clerk kind of knew by the box. That plus the other posts on this string regarding the legal requirements to do so. The clerk also confirmed none of the "UPS Stores" in my area would take them. He didn't say they couldn't, they just won't. Its kind of ironic that a driver can take them as a pick up, but the UPS store won't.

Fed Ex will take them at their neighborhood stores, at least the ones I have dealt with. Sometimes they want to see my FFL license which I know they are not required to do but I always have it handy when I'm shipping.

Cost wise I think FedEx was a little cheaper. I shipped two double barrel cowboy action type shotguns; one via FedEx and one via UPS. The FedEx went to Texas and the UPS went to Alabama so UPS had a little further to go. The weights and package sizes were almost identical. FedEx cost me $20 without insurance and UPS was $26 without insurance. In any case it seems they are pretty competitive.

For long guns I will probably use FedEx in the future as their prices are pretty similar and I can use my neighborhood office. USPS is still the best for handguns, once you train the clerks :-)

Thanks for the help

[kemasa]

The driver can take them because they work for the common carrier, rather than a random person, which is what the UPS Store is. UPS policy says no shipping through the UPS Store, so they really can't accept them.

Would you be willing to give a firearm to a Uber or Lyft driver to drop off for you? No difference with the UPS Store.

[Librarian]

https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-cente.../firearms.page



That's all I could find saying you need to notify UPS there is a gun and it looks like it only applies to a handgun for some reason.

Fed EX says to notify for any firearm. I have never shipped fedex.

UPS have never questioned any claim I have ever had on a shipment issue so I'm not worried about it.

See the latest UPS tariff here - https://www.ups.com/assets/resources...service_us.pdf, section 3.6 and following, and https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-cente.../firearms.page - that last one does say 'notify about handguns', so maybe they've changed their minds about long guns.